Locking device for intermediate bushings



July 29, 1930. .1. BLACK LOCKING DEVICE FOR INTERMEDIATE BUSHINGS Filed April 26. 1929 Patented July 29, 1930 PATENT OFFICE LEE 3'. BLACK, BEAUMONT, TEXAS LOCKING DEVICE FOR INTERMEDIATE BUSHINGS Application flled April 26,

This invention relates to an intermediate bushing construction or inner table section for rotary well drilling apparatus, and more particularly to a device of this character which is sectional to admit of passage therethrough of pipes or tools of different diameters.

An important object of the invention is to provide in a device of this character a construction such that the sections of the inner table may be locked to one another in a fashion permitting the same to be bodily removed as a unit or any desired portion thereof to be removed as a unit.

A further object of the invention is to provide in apparatus of this character an arrangement such that means are provided for conducting away any splash or leakage wateror slush which may fall upon the upper 20 surface of the table, thus preventing these fluids from passin to the outer section of the table and coming'mto contact with the driving mechanism and other parts to which they might causeserious damage. A still further object of thein-vention i the provision of a locking mechanism which may be readily incorporated in the structure of a sectional bushing, which is easily manipulated to control the connection of the various parts, and which may be cheaply and durably constructed.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a rotary well drilling table including locking.

mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention; 4

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 ure.2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 10 generally designates the outer tableof rotary well drillin a paratus, and 11 the inner table thereo he inner table is formed in three sections 12, 13 and 14, which may be generally designated is a section on line 3-3 of Fig- 1928. Serial No. 358,415.

as the outer section, the middle section, and the inner section. Theouter section is held against rotation with relation to the inner section, when this inner section is'to be driven, by suitable connections therewith, these connections in the present instance being shown as including the locking ring 15, described in my prior atent No. 1,580,002 issued April 6, 1926, for rotary well drilling apparatus. Each of the sections 13 and 14 has enga ement with the section arranged outwar 1y thereof, preventing relative rotation thereof at all times, while the inner section is adapt ed for the reception of a grief stem drive bushing 16.

In accordance with my invention the inner table is made bodily removable from the outer table and is provided at its outer edge with an outstanding flange 17, adapted for coaction with latch bolts 18 mounted in suitable guides 19 carried by the outer table. These latch bolts may be projected to overlie the flange and thus prevent an vertical movement of the outer section 0 the inner table. The sections 12, 13 and 14 of the inner table are formed with aligned horizontally disposed grooves 20, 21 and 22 which combine to produce a flat circular recess disposed below the level of the upper surface of the inner table. The upper wall of this recess has a bore 23 coaxial with the recess and extending upwardly to the upper surface of the inner table and opening through the bottom wall of a recess 24 formed therein.

Rotatably mounted in this recess is a shaft 25 having a polygonal portion 26 extending through the circular recess formed by grooves 20, 21 and 22 upon which is mounted a chordally segmental disc 27. This disc which has a diameter slightly less than the circular recess is slightly greater than a semicircle and shaft 25 projects therethrough at the true axis thereof. The truncated edge 28 of the disc is thus disposed at a point such that when it faces either of the table sections 12 or 14 it lies inwardly of such table section with relation to the section 13, so that the position of this face determines whether the section 13 is locked to section 12 or .to section 14, the rear or curved edge of the disc always locking to the intermediate section 13 the section 12 or 14 away from which the chordal edge 28 of the disc is facing. When the chordal edge of the disc extends transversely of the wall of the section 13 then the portions of the disc are extended into each of grooves 20, 21 and 22, and the three sections 12, 13 and 14 are locked to one another. Any suitable means may be provided for rotating shaft 25. In the present instance, this shaft is shown as having at its upper end a lever handle 29 operating within the recess 24 of the upper surface of the table. This lever handle is positionable in any of three notches 30, 31 and 32 formed in the upper surface of the'inner table. These notches may be conveniently rovided by producing upon the upper sur ace of the table within the recess 24 raised ribs 33, adjacent ends of which are spaced from one another or from the walls of the recess in such fashion that radial sockets are provided.

Each socket 30, 31 and 32 is preferably capped by an overhanging ledge 34, preventing accidental displacement of the lever handle and accordingly necessitating manual manipulation of the lever handle to permit escape of the same from an engaged notch.

With a construction of this character it will be obvious that since the grief stem drive bushing 16 is locked to the inner section 14, as generally designated at 35, in event it is desired that the entire inner table be removed it will be simpl necessary to dispose the lever handle in t e notch 30 so that the three sections 12, 13 and 14 are locked to one another, then withdraw the bolts 18 and elevate the grief stem. These grief stems, as is well known to those familiar with the art, have enlargements at their lower ends which will prevent their passage through the grief stem drive bushing, so that when this enlargement engages the grief stem drive bushing, it will be elevated and through the locking mechanism 35 will lift therewith the remaining sections of the inner table, indicated at 12, 13 and 14. If it is desired that only the inner section 14 be removed the lever handle is moved to the notch 31 and bolts 18 are shifted to their locking position. Thus the outer section 12 is held against vertical movement and the section 13, being locked thereto, remains stationary therewith and section 14 being freed for movement will elevate with the grief stem drive bushing 16. If it is desired that sections 13 and-14 both be removed with the grief stem drive bushing the lever handle is moved to the notch 32 with the result that the disc 27 looks sections 13 and 14 to one another for movement with the drive bushin 16.

t will be obvious from the foregoing that with this arrangement any portion of the inner table or the entire inner table may be removed with the bushing, thus making preparation for insertion of larger casings, or for the entrance of tools too large to pass through the opening afforded by the removal 25 to the circular recess in which the disc 27 operates. I accordingly connect the lower end of this recess with a drain roove 36 opening through the bottom of section 13, with the result that this drain water is passed off and led back into the well, where it can do no damage to the table or to the driving mechanism thereof, and where it cannot cause a sloppy condition of the floor about the rotary, ma (ing this floor slippery and dangerous to workmen.

Since the construction illustrated is capable of a very considerable range of change and modification without in any manner depar ing from the spirit of the invention, I accordingly do not limit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. A rotary table for well drilling apparatus, comprising inner and outer table elements the inner table being formed in three sections having nesting engagement with one another and held against relative rotation when in nested engagement, said sections bein movable into and out of nested engagement y axial movement thereof, said.

the rst named recess, and an operating means for said disc including a lever handle shiftable within the pocket, notches within which said lever handle is disposable in its three different positions, the lever handle being vertically movable to shift it out of or into said notches.

2. A rotary table for well drillin apparatus, including inner and outer ta 1e elements, the inner table being. formed in three sections having nesting engagement with one another and held against rotation when inv nested engagemet, said sections being movable into and out of nested engagement by axial movements thereof, a latching member carried by the middle section and rotatable thereon to three positions, said latching memher in one of said positions latching the middle section to the outer section, in a second position latching the middle section to the inner section, and in a third position latching the inner and outer sections to said middle section, a grief stem section disposed within the innermost section, the upper facesof the three sections being circularly recessed and the lateral. face of the brief stem drive bushing having an arcuate recess opening into the circular recess and forming part thereof, the floor of the circular recess so formed being provided with notches, the latching member having a stem extending upward into the circular recess, a handle mounted upon the stem and adapted to be rotated over the face of the circular recess and disposed in any one of said notches to hold the latching member in any one of its three positions, each of said notches having an overhanging wall preventing accidental displacement of the lever handle from the notch into which it has been moved.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LEE J. BLACK. 

